Spring Break

So this week is Spring Break here, which means that the kids are home from school all week.

All weekend it had been nice and warm, but today it is back into the low 40s. Of course that it life in Indiana. Spring Break is in mid-March but it is usually still cold. So today the kids and I are all hanging out in the house, not doing much, relaxing and watching tv, or writing on the computer or playing games. It is kinda nice to have the time to spend with the kids, with nothing to pressure us to do homework or to make class or anything like that.

The plans are to go visit my grandma one day this week, and I thought that I might do it today, but that has not worked out, and I know that she has a doctor appointment tomorrow so we can't go then. We want to visit but not too long, or overtax her too much. She is doing better after her hospital stay, but she is almost 87 years old, and so she can't do as much as she used to although she hates to admit it, but then again don't we all.

A lot of people like to travel on Spring Break and take off for warmer weather. You know, even way back when I was in school, I was never on of those people, not that I wouldn't have enjoyed it, but I never had the opportunity to go south for Spring Break, or when I did have the chance in college, I just couldn't swing the payments that it would be. It's hard to budget for something like that when you are working to pay for school. Once I was out of school, Spring Break was nothing, because you don't get Spring Break from work. Only now that the kids are in school has Spring Break become something again to think about. I think the kids would enjoy doing something fun, but we'll just have to see what we can swing.

To be honest, to relax in the house with my kids today, with no plans and nothing we have to do, to be able to play games together has been the greatest things around. I have loved me day.

Cancer...

Yes, I said it. Cancer, there I said it again. The c-word, the big c, the hush, the whisper, the unmentionable, the "you're not suppose to say cancer in a song", the taboo. Yet today, we talk about it more than only a generation ago. It's come out in the open, we can talk about it more now, but it makes me wonder...if we hadn't spent so much time hiding it, not talking about it and being scared of it, would we be closer to a cure? Would more research have been done? Or would we still be at the same place as today.

At some point in your life, cancer is going to effect each and every person on this plant. It may not be you yourself that has to deal with it, but it will be someone you love, and so you will be forced to confront it head on and deal with it. It might be your parents, your siblings, your in-laws, your cousin, your aunt or uncle, your grandparents, or heaven forbid your child.

In September of 2009, in fact the day after Labor Day, a Tuesday, the sun was out as bright as could be that day. I took my Grandfather to the hospital for some test results. That was the day we were told that he had lymphoma. I remember sitting there in shock, then asking the questions, what did this mean. The doctor told me, in broken English, that lymphoma was a slow-growing, non-aggressive cancer and that he could live for many years with no problems, in fact this would not effect his longevity. Relief washed over me, and we scheduled some follow-up appointments and to read the results with the doctor on September 30th.

As the weeks went on my grandfather, who had been mobile and active stopped eating, but gained a tremendous amount of weight, in fact going up more than 3 sizes in the waist, becoming wheelchair bound and having trouble with his bodily functions. I started looking online, and ever resource I found told me the opposite of the doctor, that lymphoma was fast-growing and very aggressive. I kept thinking there was no way he could be going downhill this fast, and it must be something else.

I arrived at his house Tuesday night, he lived an hour drive from me, and being floored by how bad he looked. Early Wednesday morning I got up to take him to the hospital, only three blocks away for the follow-up with the doctor. My grandmother, my mom's mom showed up at the house and offered to come with me, and I will always remember that as a gift from God. My grandfather was my dad's dad, and so there was no blood connection between these two grandparents, in fact their children had divorced and each remarried long ago, but yet they continued to be friendly and concerned about each other. As I struggled to get him into the car, I was glad to have her there to joke with me and keep it light.

We met with the doctor, and he didn't seem concerned about the drastic physical changes that had occurred but offered my grandfather the choice to do this one chemo treatment, which he said yes to and they would do it that very day, in fact it ended up starting less than half an hour later. That was the last I saw of that doctor. Never once during the chemo did he check up on my grandfather. The nurses on the other hand were angles sent by God. They allowed grandma and I to sit beside him all day, they helped me help him to the bathroom every time he had to go, they talked with me and were just concerned for me. The treatment ended up taking all day, and it was almost 6pm when we were ready to leave there. Grandpa seemed even weaker than when we had come in that morning. About 4pm, the nurses decided that they were very concerned about how weak he was and me taking him home, so they start petitioning the doctor to admit him for the night. The doctor refused, finally the nurses told me to take Grandpa straight to the ER when we left there and ask them to admit him for the night, they were afraid I couldn't handle him at home alone that night. I called my husband and he urged me to listen to the nurses, and my grandma agreed and even as strange as it felt to walk from one part of the hospital to the other I did it.

The ER took one look at Grandpa and rushed him back before I could even finish telling them what had occurred that day. They were great. They took good care of him and settled me down and got him admitted. Once they got him up to a room, he seemed to look and feel alot better. They finally talked me into going home, and so I went back to grandpa's and talked to my husband. By the time I got off the phone the hospital was calling asking me to come back. They had moved Grandpa into ICU for one-on-one nursing care and he was asking for family. I drove the mere three blocks, got upstairs and they were already trying to resuscitate him. when the ICU doctor talked to us, he explained that lymphoma was a very aggressive cancer and that he had seen people go in a week, we were lucky to get the month with Grandpa. He passed before midnight that night.

I look back and have many regrets. Regret that I didn't force him to get a second opinion on the lymphoma, regret that I didn't spend more time that month with him, that I didn't see this coming, so much. It is a huge wound that over the years has finally scab over, but things happen in life that rip the scab off and allow it to bleed anew. But I refuse to bury it inside and and not talk about it, to say that it was his heart or something else, no it was lymphoma and I didn't know enough about it, still don't.

How do I heal now? I talk about it. I refuse to let it be the thing you can't talk about. I research lymphoma and learn more about it, I support research and I keep him alive by not letting him go without a fight, by supporting research and the race for a cure. If you haven't had someone in your life fight cancer yet, you will...how will you respond to the fight? Will you keep it silent or will you fight?

Car Repairs

March 9, 2011

So here I sit at Meineke waiting on them to look at the Durango. Was driving it the other day and all the sudden the heater quit blowing. It still heated up, but the fan was no longer blowing. Great. Last year the heater in the back half went out, the fan blows there but no heat, now I have heat in the front but no fan, between the two sections I have one working heater! Now if they can just make that work without costing me an arm and a leg, I would be happy.

Brad hates my Durango. He hates the Dodge altogether. The check engine light has been on for a couple years now because the gas cap is slightly lose. He thinks all Dodges have electrical problems. Our old Caravan Minivan had all the lights on the dashboard go out, so he is just againist them all, I don't know, I love my Durango. I feel so much safer driving it with the kids, because I know that it is larger than most of the other vehicles on the road.

Just last summer we put new transmission in the Durango, so I am committed to keeping this one running good for as long as I can. That was a lot of money and I am not about to go looking for a new car. So just as I was writing the guy comes out with the news. The blower resistor was bad, a little $35 piece, cool, not bad I am thinking, then the other foot drops. While they were in there they noticed a little squeak, had I noticed that when I was driving. Well, yes I had noticed it, but just off and on so I didn't think much about it. Turns out the bearings were going out on my water pump, so my nice little $35 repair turned into a $500 repair. Great.

Speaking of new cars, I hate car shopping. Brad and I have totally different tastes in cars and different requirements. We both want safety, but he sees it a little differently than I do. He doesn't see my big Durango as being as safe as I feel driving it, so it makes it hard to find something we both agree on. Oh well, at least we aren't in the market for a new car at the moment which is good. Ugh, just dumping more money into this car, so I guess I am going to have to drive it a little longer.

Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scout Cookies...it's that time of the year already.

Now, I know that no one needs a reason to use up their Thin Mint cookies, but I do have one for you.

Thin Mint Brownies

1/2 box of thin mint cookies, crushed
1 box brownie mix
2 eggs
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup oil

Crush the cookies to medium sized chunks. Mix all ingredients in a bowl by hand, NO mixer. Spread into a greased 13X9 pan evenly. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Let cool and enjoy!

Now the reason I share this today, is that Cookie Booths open tonight. Our Troop has a booth tomorrow, and the girls will be out in force selling cookies.

Please remember that every box of Girl Scout cookies you buy goes to support the local Girl Scout unit and the individual Troop you buy from. So if you buy cookies from us, some money goes to our council to support events for the whole council of girls. Other money come directly to our Troop, and that is the money we use to go on trips, camping, earning out badges, anything and everything we do come from that money, unless we get other donations.

That being said...I encourage everyone to get out and support your local Girl Scouts, still after all these years helping girls navigate through the uncertainites of life to become strong, independent and productive women.

Summer Theatre

One Step Above Dance Studio Dasting Call for Summer!!

All students insterested in theatre should plan to participate in the 2011 OSA Summer Theatre Production.

Students will receive vocal, acting and dance training.

We will be offering two different musicals!

K-3rd Grade Students

We will be learing 101 Dalmations Kids. This 30 minute musical will be a great start to your child's musical experience.

Class: will be 2 hours 2x a week

Cost: $125 Summer Fee

***Boys are 1/2 tuition!!***

Costume Rental: $25.00

Audition Dates: May 11th, 4-9pm and May 14th, 10:30-1pm

Rehearsals: Begin the week of may 30th through August

Once you register, you will get your audition material and sign up for an audition time.

4th Grade and Up

Will be learing a 60 minute version of High School Musical Jr.

Class: Will be 3 hours a week 2x a week

Cost: $150 Summer Fee

****Boys are 1/2 tuition!!***

Costume rental: $25.00

Audition Dates: may 11th, 4-9pm and May 14th 10:30-1pm

Rehearsals: Begin the week of may 30th through August

Once you register, you will get your audition material and sign up for an audition time.

Dragon's Breath by E.D. Baker

Dragon's Breath by E.D. Baker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Dragon's Breath is the second book in the Frog Princess Series. The story continues right where the Frog Princess ended.

Again we are treated to Emma and Eadric, both as humans, although Emma is having a little magic problem, everytime she sneezes, she turns herself and Eadric back into frogs. It seems to happen at the most inconvient times too!

We revisit Grassina and Haywood, who is still an otter and their quest to reverse her mothers spell and turn Haywood back into a man, which turns out to be quite difficult and the results are not what anyone expected!

I read this book, with and to my children, and they laughed so much throughout the book. The loved the story and had such a good time listening. Each night it was, please just one more chapter, just one more. I would have been reading all night if I hadn't put a limit on the number of chapters per night.

I started out reading it with my daughters, and they loved it. They love Emma and they enjoy listening to what is going on and how things are resolved. Last night my son joined in on the story and it took us longer to read because we had to keep going back and explaining things to him, but he loved it as well. He liked Eadric more and laughed at him and enjoyed the story.

This is such a well written book, it is perfect for young girls, but there are enough Dragons, and swords and such to keep young boys interested as well. Book three in the series has already been requested for tonights reading.


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Weekends

Weekends are an animal of a whole different color around here. During the week, I get the kids off to school and then have a little time to myself before I start my morning rountine to write and blog. On the weekends, well, that is a whole new story.

With the kids home the whole time, I never get to write, or blog unless I wait until after they go to bed, or sneak some time during the day, and then it is not as fun and rewarding to do it if I have to sneak. For the most part, I just let me writing slide on the weekends, because computer time is almost non-exsistant for mom on the weekends, unless the kids are gone.

This weekend was no different, the kids had me busy, and no time to write, but I did get computer time, and that was only because as a group, the kids and I were playing a real-time game called Virtual Villagers.

Virtual Villagers was created by Last Day of Work, and they are a fantastic company and the game is great. We found them awhile back and the kids love to play, but it usually means, that Mom sits at the computer with the kids climbing around me sitting and we all decided what to do and when and what order and all that stuff. It is fun really. When else do I get to sit with the kids, all together, and we make choices and talk about things together without any fighting. I cherish those times!

Well, the last day of December, the company came out with their newest version of Virtual villagers, called Virtual Villagers 5: The New Believers. Each time they have came out with a new version it has changed the storyline and local a little, with the same basic premise underneath. The kids love this new one, and so we worked all weekend on it, and had a blast. We are almost ready to finish the game with the first tribe we created, but at the same time, we have thought of news ways we wanted to start and are looking forward to playing it again and again with new and different tribes.